Senior pupils were sent home en masse after wreaking havoc at a brand new £30 million Fife high school on their leaving day.
As the entire sixth year was dismissed an insider told The Courier: “It was like the building was under attack.”
Instead of signing off their secondary education at Auchmuty High in Glenrothes with light-hearted fun and fond farewells, the out of control gang of pupils many shielding their identities behind masks terrorised younger pupils, who according to a source were “scared and panicking”.
One younger pupil caught up in the so- called Muck Up day had to be taken home by her parent after suffering an asthma attack as the senior pupils, who have tarnished an otherwise exemplary record, released flour bombs from a high balcony.
The teens, who had stockpiled jumbo water pistols and stink gas-filled balloons, ignored orders to calm down and were told to leave the school where other pupils were sitting exams immediately.
A buffet laid by staff to celebrate their achievements was cancelled and although the school prom will go ahead, The Courier has learned many staff won’t be going, as they cannot bear to face the horde again.
After the rumpus, cleaning squads were brought in and calm was restored quickly, but the school community will take longer to forget the pandemonium.
An insider told The Courier: “It was outrageous. These pupils have never caused any major problems in the last six years. For about an hour they went mad.”
They were called together by Headteacher Alan Pithie who told them categorically “this isn’t on.”
The source added: “They were creating mayhem the younger kids were very frightened.”
Staff tried to reason with them and said they would hand back gear they had confiscated if the pupils would go outside, let off steam, and then go home.
“For the next 20-30 minutes, it was okay and the school was getting tidied up but at break time all hell broke loose.”
“Kids were screaming and running away some were texting their parents that they didn’t feel safe.
Staff were united in their support for the headteacher in sending the pupils home. And they are said to be shocked and saddened that instead of apologies some parents are complaining, not about their children’s unruly behaviour but about their last day “being ruined” because they were turfed out.
Other pupils at the Glenrothes school have also condemned the actions of their peers and have supported the staff.
“Everyone has been really shocked, especially since it came out of the blue,” a source said.
“In the past, there has been pranks but this seemed to be turned on the school and other pupils. They have really let themselves down.
“This was a record-breaking group in so many ways but they didn’t seem to have the intelligence not to finish off in this manner.”
Mr Pithie voiced his deep disappointment at the actions of the pupils.
“We expect a high standard of appropriate behaviour and respect from all of our students throughout the school year and are deeply disappointed at the conduct of sixth year students on their last day.
“On Friday we invited all 124 6th year pupils along to school to celebrate their hard work and achievements over the last year because we were very proud of what they had all achieved.
“But throughout the morning, a large number of students displayed unacceptable behaviour inside the school building.
“Repeated appeals for the behaviour to improve were ignored, and this left me no choice but to ask all sixth year students to leave the school immediately after break in order to re-instate a calm environment for all other year groups.
“I am deeply disappointed and shocked at the students’ disregard for the school.
“I’d also like to apologise on their behalf to the other students and staff who suffered as a result of this unacceptable behaviour.
“I will also ensure that we continue to make clear throughout the year to all students the standards of behaviour we expect.”